Ticona opens world’s largest acetal facility in Germany

After three years of construction, engineering resin supplier Ticona has opened what it describes as the world’s largest acetal copolymer production plant, in Frankfurt, Germany.

With a nameplate capacity of 140,000 tons per year, the new is designed to strengthen the Sulzbach, Germany-based company’s engineering polymers business, including its global operations and advanced technical capabilities. According to a Ticona news release, the construction of the production plant, technical centre and R&D facility required 52,318 cubic yards of concrete, 497 miles of cable, 8,000 tons of steel, as well as about 49 miles of piping. In addition to Ticona specialists, about 1,200 workers were employed at the construction site, and up to 400 engineers at various international facilities contributed to the plant construction.

Ticona produces a variety of polyoxymethylene (POM) grades marketed under the Hostaform and Celcon trade names. They are designed to enhance specific material properties, optimize the material for special processes or improve the aesthetics with metallic and other looks.